I'm a little confused as well. Can the intake be done without the software? Or does this all need to be done in conjunction? It might be easier to do this in stages (or at least easier to get spousal approval).

+1 would be temporarily satisfied with manifold only until group buy or some other opportunity to purchase the software at a discount.

I'm a little confused as well. Can the intake be done without the software? Or does this all need to be done in conjunction? It might be easier to do this in stages (or at least easier to get spousal approval).

Yes it definitely can be done in stages. Currently the only mod I have on my 325i step is the intake manifold. I've posted my dynos on the board showing the 8hp increase at the wheels. As stated before the 325i ecu already has the code to open and close the actuators to make it breath better. I've been holding off on doing the tune hoping for better pricing from powerchips.

I'm starting to get curious if you install an intake how much that would bump things up???

Yes it definitely can be done in stages. Currently the only mod I have on my 325i step is the intake manifold. I've posted my dynos on the board showing the 8hp increase at the wheels. As stated before the 325i ecu already has the code to open and close the actuators to make it breath better. I've been holding off on doing the tune hoping for better pricing from powerchips.

I'm starting to get curious if you install an intake how much that would bump things up???

Nice nice, what we wanted to hear . Did you feel any differences with the 8 HP gains? (throttle response, better top end)

Im looking into it. On the oem parts website, they show the n51 sulev as having this intake along with the 128. They share the same part number. Any thoughts?

Interesting. If you input the parts needed, it shows z4, x3, 330i, and 130i all with the same part number (11617559523). Now, do you know if you have that n51 sulev engine? I thought that was California based or very few states. I would just check with your dealer and have them type in the last 7 of your vin and it shows a code like "n52 2996 cc" for mine. Althought, the n51 might just be emissions based/same power output.

But, seriously, I would be all over this ASAP if I had enough funds at the moment, with or without the tune, and I have spent money on mods that do far less than this...$500 for intake (3 hp), $750 for exhaust (6hp, maybe), $500 for M3 parts ($1 million hp, jk)...etc..etc..

I'm a little confused as well. Can the intake be done without the software? Or does this all need to be done in conjunction? It might be easier to do this in stages (or at least easier to get spousal approval).

You can do it in any order. Software first or intake first. I did the software first and did the intake a while later. Either will not cause any damage to the car. However, you car will have some flat spots in the powerband if you do the intake with no software but you will only notice it at full throttle.

Im looking into it. On the oem parts website, they show the n51 sulev as having this intake along with the 128. They share the same part number. Any thoughts?

I think the n51 might be Canadian only and I think it is a 2.5L. Then again I though the 2.5Ls were called 323s. I've never seen an n51 powered car before. Anything I've seen is n52 powered. Anyone with a 328 should not have too much of a problem with this mod. The engines are almost identical and they both have the same ECU as the 330 and 325.

Nice nice, what we wanted to hear . Did you feel any differences with the 8 HP gains? (throttle response, better top end)

Personally I don't notice much at the low end or change in throttle response. I can feel it though when the high end actuator kicks in around the 4,000 rpm range. If you look at any of the dyno charts you can see a dip and then spike in torque. It reminds me of a turbo kicking in. Of course not as dramatic in the power increase. Like someone else said bang for the buck this is a great option.

Personally I don't notice much at the low end or change in throttle response. I can feel it though when the high end actuator kicks in around the 4,000 rpm range. If you look at any of the dyno charts you can see a dip and then spike in torque. It reminds me of a turbo kicking in. Of course not as dramatic in the power increase. Like someone else said bang for the buck this is a great option.

especially when just buying an intake for $300-700 dollars, might give only a few actual horsepower...i know from experience.

Personally I don't notice much at the low end or change in throttle response. I can feel it though when the high end actuator kicks in around the 4,000 rpm range. If you look at any of the dyno charts you can see a dip and then spike in torque. It reminds me of a turbo kicking in. Of course not as dramatic in the power increase. Like someone else said bang for the buck this is a great option.

Nice, as Long as there is some sensation, I wonder how much of a kick you'll get with software, should feel the same as the 'ol 330

I'm not sure of the differences in the 328. There are differences between early build 328s and later builds.

Can anyone give a solid confirmation on the 328i's viability for this conversion? If it is, it will be amongst the keystone modifications that I will perform once the car arrives. Manifold > Hardware > Flash.

I've always been a little bit pissed off at the U.S. BMW offerings. 328 is just weird. 320i > 325i > 330i > 335i sounds more right to me. Why take a 330i engine and then purposefully hamper it? I'm pretty damn sure BMW could've gained a lot of yuppie, non-enthusiast sales with a better product structure.

Before I got into the rollover accident and traffic tickets, the 328i would have never made my purchase list. Now, I'm more than content to take delivery of the 328i and convert to this. Great work!

You can do it in any order. Software first or intake first. I did the software first and did the intake a while later. Either will not cause any damage to the car. However, you car will have some flat spots in the powerband if you do the intake with no software but you will only notice it at full throttle.

I'm thinking way down the road as I am still under CPO warranty... but can the PBX Power Box be installed after the manifold and software upgrades??